Operating means for permanent magnetic mechanism



w. s. LEVIN AND E. WIET. OPERATING MEANS FOR PERMANENT MAGNETIC MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I9, I918- 1,403,791

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

INVENTORS WITNESS.- 8 M BY A TTORNE YS.

Patented J an. 17, 1922.

w. s. LEVIN AND E. WIET. OPERATING MEANS FOR PERMANENT MAGNETIC MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 19. I918- 1,403,791

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Jan. 17,1922.

H u 1: H28 i 62 J 4 WITNESS.-

' INVENTORS W541 wgfim I 5,, 012/ A TTORNEYS.

w. s. LEI/IN AND E. WIET. OPERATING MEANS FOR PERMANENT MAGNETIC MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, IBIB. 1,403,791 Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 WITNESS: $6 zINI ENTORS 5%? 08 16: BY

A TTORNE YS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER S. LEVIN AND EUGENE WIET, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO NATIONAL SAFETY APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A

CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

OPERATING MEANS FOR PERMANENT MAGNETIC MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Application filed March 19, 1918. Serial No. 223,280.

To ((ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, TVALTER S. Levin and EUGENE TVIET, citizens of the United States, residing at the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Means for Permanent Magnetic Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved operating and controlling device particularly designed for employment in railway saiety signal or control mechanism of the electrically operated type, and is particu larly adapted for throwing or controlling a moyable keeper oi? apermanent magnet whereby said keeper is operated relatively to the iagnet poles to permit the magnet to retain its permanency when not in use, and also to permit said keeper to be disconnected from the poles, whereby a magnetic hold is created adjacent the poles,

The invention consists primarily in proriding a simple and eiiicient electrically controlled aratus for operating the magnet keeper a: 1 one which can be cheaply constructed, is not liable to get out of order and is thoroughly e'flicient for the purposes for which it is designed.

.Vith the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the no el. construction and combination of parts hereinafter described. illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the iorm proportion. size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims may be re- Fig. 3 is a view in detail of the magnetic control device for retaining the keeper locked in its raised position.

Fig. 4: is a view in side elevation of the construction illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the magnetic clutch taken on line 55Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Fig. (3 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the magnetic clutchtaken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the several views of the drawings. wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein the keeper is illustrated in open position. the numerals 1 indicate suitable parallel track rails of the bonded type, the same being divided into sections or blocks through the insulating members 2.

Connected in circuit with the rails 1 of any given block through Wires 3 and 4 is a line relay 5 adapted for operation by a battery 5 in circuit across the rails, and at a point distant therefrom within the same block and positioned between the rails thereof, is a suitable permanent magnet 7. of a type disclosed in the copending application of lValter S. Levin. Ser. No. 223,281, filed March 19, 1918, and the energizing of said line relay controls the operation of the keeper 6 of said magnet 7 by the controlling mechanism hereinafter described.

To the end of the keeper 6 is attached a flexible member 8 adapted for winding around a suitable sheave 9 on the end of a rotary shaft- 10. said shaft being mounted in bearings 11 supported by a base 12, substantially square in plan.

Cooperating with the shaft 10 and carried thereby is a suitable magnetic clutch mechanism 13, illustrated more fully in Figs. 5 undo of the drawings. and said clutch coniprises cooperating members 14' and 1:), the member 15! being loose to rotate on said shaft- 0 and the member 15 being keyed to revolve with the shaft. The member 15 is provided with an overhanging flange 16 and the peripheral faces of each of said members 1d and 15 are toothed as at 17 providing a gear on each member.

Carriedon the inner face of the member 15 are the electro magnets 18 connected in series and supported by a bridge 19, and a1 ranged one on either side of the shaft 10 passing therethrough.

An armature 20 cooperates with said magnets and to the same is attached yokes 21 carrying at their lower ends a dog 22 adapted on the energizing ot' the magnets to engage certain steps 23 termed on, the inner surface of the flange 16 of the member 15 uniting the members and causing the same to rotate in unison on the rotation of the shaft 10.

A coiled spring 24 normally disengages the dog 22 "from the steps 23 on de-ene1giz ing the magnets 18 and a pin 25 sliding in a guide 26 assists in guiding said yoke 21 during its movement. To the hub 27 ot the member 1 1- is secured an insulating ring 28, and carried on the'periphery oi said ring are suitable spaced interconnected contacting or conducting rings 29 connected one with each of the coils 18 by the respective wires 30 and 31,-Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Secured to the shaft 10 to rotate therewith is a pinion 32 intermeshing with a spoked gear 33 loosely carried by a rotatable shaft 34 mounted in bearings 35 and extending substantially parallel with the shaft 10.- Fixed to the'shait 34 is the hub 300i a suitable crank arm 37, the curved end 38 of which projects between the spokes otthe gear 33 and said shaft carries adjacent its opposite end a laterally extended weighted arm 39 disposed substantially parallel with the crank arm 37. Thus it will be apparent that on the rotation of the gear 33, movement will be imparted to the crank arm 37 and as thesame is raised to a perpendicular position the weight of the arm 39 will cause an over-balancing oi the nine to make a quick moveinentot said shatt 3-1. The shaft 7 carries a pair of spaced cams 39, each of which lies beneath a suitable contact spring a0, one of said contacts having extending therefrom the wire 50, and from the other spring extends the wires 51 and 52.

The free ends oi the springs are adapted to engage respectively vith' contact points 53 and from which cxtendthe respective wires 55 and 56.

ll ith the geared periphery 1701 the member 15 of the magnetic clutch 13 intermeshesa pinion 57 coupled with a gear '53 by the integral collar '58, said. pinion 5? and gear 58 being loosely supported for rotation as within which is positioned a hub or disk '65 to the shaft 60, and said disk carries the pivot-ally mounted clutch dogs 66, the outer curved ends 67 of which are adapted, by the springs 68, to be forced into contact with the periphery of the circular recess Gel and lock the shaft '60 and wheel 62, so that the same will rotate in unison in one direction, said shatt'being free to rotate in an opposite direction independently of the wheel 02.

Cooperating with the notched surface 03 of the wheel 62 is the lug 69 carried on the free end or" an'a'rmature 70 pivotally mounted within its length as at 71 and carrying on its inner end a weight 72 sullicient'to raise the outer free end of the armature to disengage the lug 69 from the periphery of the wheel 62. The Ing is-adapted to be maintained in engagement with the notched surface 63 of the wheel 62 by the energizing of electro magnets 7 3 carried on said base 12 adjacent said wheel, and from said magnets extend the wires 74 and 75 connected at their opposite ends, one to a post 76 on the terminal block 77 and the other to a wire 78 lead ing from a post 7 9 with its end terminating in a contact 78 to be engaged by the armature 80' of the line relay 5.

The wire 55 intersects the wire T 1 and a suitable wire 81-leads from the post 7 6 and connects with the armature '80, and in said wire-is mounted a suitable source of electric energy such as a battery 82.

The terminal block 77 carries a binding post .83 to which is connected one end or" the wire 56 and "from said post leads a wireS terminating in the contact 85 with which the armature 80 'is adapted to contact on the dropping of the same, due to the de-energizing of the line relay 5. p

The terminal block 77 carries terminals 86 and S? which are connected with the termina-l 76 by a conductor 88 and from said terminal 87 extends a wire 89 connecting with a contact brush 90 supported on a base 91, said brush having frictional contact with one of the conducting rings 29. A similar 11o brush 92 contacts with the other ring 29 and is also supported on the base 91, and the same is attached to wire 51. r

A motor 93 is connected througha wire 9% with the binding post 86 and also connects with wire 52, and the armature 95 thereof carries a. shaft 96 supported at its outer end by a bearing 97. The shaft within itslength carries aworm 98 having engagement with V age'ar 99 mounted on' a countershalit 100 i'otatable in bearings 101, and said shaft carries a pinion 102 which hasengagement with the peripheral surface '17 of the member 1a of the magnetic clutch. j A hand brake 103 secured atone end to a suitable support extends around a magnetic clutch, Figs. 5 and 6, and is adapted to contact with the surface of the flange 16, the free end of said hand brake being secured'through a pivotal connection 104 with the armature 105 of a brake magnet 106, said armature being pivotally supported as at 107. The brake band 103 when the armature 105 is disengaged from the magnet coils 106, due to the deenergizing of the coils, permits the rotation or movement relatively thereto of the member 15 of the clutch. However, on the energizing of the magnet coils 106, the movement of the armature on its fulcrum 107 is sufiicient to drawv the brake band tightly around the flanged surface 16 of the member 15 of the clutch and retards rotation of the same. A wire 108 extended from the binding post 76 connects with one of the coils 106 and the other coil connects with the wire 50.

lVhen the block is open the line relay 5 is normally energized by battery 5, causing the armature 80 thereof to contact with the contact point 78' causing the current from battery 82 to energize the magnet 73, the current flowing through the wires 78 and 74 and returning through wires and 81, thus the member 69 is maintained in contact with the notched surface 63 of the Wheel 62 preventing the rotation of the shaft 60 through the pinion 59, gear 58, gear 33 and pinion 32 on the shaft 10, preventing the dropping of the keeper 6 by gravity to disconnect the poles 7 of the magnet.

When in this position, the keeper 6 connects the poles of the magnet and insures the permanency thereof during such time as the block is unoccupied. On the closing of the block, due to the-entrance of a train within the same, the line relay is de-energized by the :shorting of the circuit of battery 5, permitting the armature 80 to drop, breaking contact at 78' and making contact at 85. Immediately on the breaking of contact at 7 8, due to the movement of the an mature 80, the magnet 73 is .de-energized, permitting the weight 72 to disconnect the lug 69 from the notched surface 63 of the wheel 62. The releasing of the wheel 62 permits the weight of the keeper to drop and during said dropping the keeper rotates the shaft 10, which through the pinion 32' and gear 33 causes a movement of the shaft 34 as one of the spokes of said gear 33 lies in contact with the end 38 of the crank arm The movement of the gear 33 raises the crank arm 38 to a perpendicular position at which time the weighted arm 39 thereof causes a Sudden turning of said shaft 34, permitting the cams 39' carried thereby to disengage from beneath the contacts 40, permitting the contacts 40 to engage respectively one with the contact 53 and the other with the contact 54. During this'engagement a circuit from the battery 82 to the brake magnet106is completed through contact 85, wires 84, 56, and 50 and returning tobattery through wires 108 and 81. The energizing of the brake magnet 106 tightens the brake 103 about the flange 16 and retards the downward movement or dropping of the keeper 6.

lVith the mechanism in this position and the poles of permanent magnet 7 disconnected, a powerful magnetic field is created over the magnet which is adapted for energizing any suitable form of signal, safety or controlling means movable thereover, on the passing of the train over the magnet 7.

When the block is cleared by thetrain the line relay 5 is energized by battery 5 causing the armature 80 to raise breaking contact with terminal 85 and closing contact with terminal 78, thereby immediately energizing the magnet 73 and causing a locking of the wheel 62 by the engagement of the lug 69 in the notched surface 63 thereof, the breaking of contact at 85 also ole-energizing the brake magnet 106, releasing the brake 103.

The circuit from the battery 82 to the motor 93 is also completed at this time by means of wires 78, 74, 55, 52, 94 and 81, causing the motor to revolve, and the magnetic clutch is also energized through the contact 78, wires 78, 74, 55, 51, brush 92. wire 30, 31, brush and wires 89 and 81 energizing the electromagnets 1S and causingthe (log 22 to be thrown outwardly into engagement with one of the stops 23 on the inner face of the flange 16 of the member 15.

It will be apparent that the operation of the motor shaft 96 will cause a rotation of the countershaft 100, which through the pinion 102, gear 14, dog 22 and engaged lug 23 will cause a rotation of the shaft 10 to raise the keeper 6 to connect the poles of the magnet, and during this rotation the pinion 32 operates the gear' 33 raisingthe crank arm 38 to a perpendicular position, enabling the weighted arm 39 thereof to cause a quick throw of the shaft 34, disengaging the members 40 from their respective contacts 53 and 54, interrupting the current from the battery to the motor. During the raising of the keeper. the shaft 60 is simultaneously rotated through the gear 15, pinion 57, gear 58 and pinion 59, this free movement being permitted by the dogs 66.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for the described purpose, including a permanent track magnet, a mov-, able keeper therefor, a track circuit including a relay, a power circuit including an armature actuated by said relay, and an electrically controlled mechanism operated by said power circuit upon the energizing of said track relay for operating said keeper to connect the poles of said magnet.

2. A device for the described purpose, including a permanent track magnet, a movable keeper therefor, 21 track circuit including a relay, a power circuit including an armature actuated by said relay, electrically controlled mechanism operated by said power circuit on the energizing of said track relay for moving the said keeper to operative position to connect the poles of' said magnet, and releasable means for re taining said keeper in its operative position, said means adapted for releasing upon the de-energizing of said track relay to permit said keeper to drop by gravity to inoperative position.v

3. A device for the described purpose, including a permanent track magnet, a movable keeper therefor, a track circuit including a relay, a power circuit including an' armature actuated by said relay, electrically controlled mechanism operated by said power circuit on the energizing of said track relay for moving the said keeper to operative position to connect the poles of said magnet, releasable means for retaining said keeper in its operative position, said means adapted for releasing upon the de-energizing of said track relay to permit said keeper to drop by gravity to inoperative position, and means for arresting the down-' ward movement of said keeper.

. 4. A device for the described purpose, 1neluding a permanent track magnet, a movable keeper therefor, a track circuit including a relay, a power circuit including an armature actuated by saidrelay, electrically controlled mechanism operated by said power circuit on the energizing of said track relay for moving said keeper to operative position to connect the poles of said magnet, a clutch intermediate said electrically operated means and said keeper and releasable on the movement ofsaid keeper to operative position, and releasable means for retaining said keeper in operative position, said releasable means adapted for releasing on the interruption of said power circuit on the de-energizing of said track relay to permit the movement of said keeper by gravity to inoperative position.

5. An apparatus for operating the movable keeper of a permanent magnet including a track circuit, a relay in circuit therewith and including an armature operated thereby on the making and breaking of said track circuit, and electrically controlled means capable of operation on the breaking of said track circuit to permit said keeper to drop by gravity to inoperative position and on the making of said track circuit to be operated to raise said keeper to operative position to bridge the poles of said magnet.

6. An apparatus for operating the movable keeper of a permanent magnet includ- .ing a track circuit, a relay in circuit therewith and including an armature operated thereby on the m'akin and breaking of said the breaking of said track circuit to permit said keeper to drop by gravity to inoperative posltion and disconnectv the poles of said magnet, and meansoperated on the movement of said keeperto operative position to interrupt the connection between the power circuit and said motor. 7. A device for the described purpose including a permanent track magnet, a movable keeper therefor, a track'circuit including a relay, a power circuit including an armature actuated by said relay, electrically controlled "mechanism operated from said power circuit on the energizing of said track relay for moving said keeper to operative position to connect the poles of said magnet, mechanical means operated on the movement of said keeper to operative position to interrupt the operation of said electrically controlled keeper operating mechanism, and releasable means for retaining said keeper in its operative position and releasable on the de-energizing of said track relay to permit the movement of said keeper by gravityto inoperative position to disconnect the poles of said magnet.

8. A device for the described purpose including a permanent track magnet, a movable keeper therefor, a track circuit including a relay, 'a power circuit including an armature actuated by said relay, a motor included in said power circuit, -disconnectable means between the motor and said keeper, electrically operated devices in circuit with said power circuit for connecting s'aid'disconnectablemeans on the energizing of said relay, whereby the operation of said motor 110 will move said keeper to operative position to connect the poles of said magnet, electrieally operated releasable means for retainring said keeper in its operative position, and means operated on the movement of passing. over th same, independent thereof,

and electrically controlled mechanism associated with'said track. circuit and operated on the maintaining of said track circuit for operating said keeper to connect the poles of said magnet.

4 10. A device for the described purpose, including a permanent track magnet, a movable keeper therefor, atrack including a circuit adapted for interruption by a vehicle passing over the same, and electrically controlled mechanism associated with said track circuit and operated on the maintaining ct said track circuit for operating said keeper to connect the poles of said magnet and adapted on the shorting of said track circuit to permit said keeper to operate to disconnect the poles of said magnet.

11. A device for the described purpose, including a permanent track magnet, a movable keeper therefor, a track including an electric circuit therein, and electrically operated means associated with said track and movable keeper and adapted on the interruption of said track circuit to permit the movement of said keeper to disconnect the poles or" said magnet and on the completing of said track circuit for moving said keeper to connect the poles of said magnet and for maintaining said keeper in its latter position.

12. In combination with track rails divided into blocks, a track circuit in each block and adapted for interruption on the moving of a car into said block, a permanent magnet associated with each of said blocks and positioned in proximity to said track rails so that a car passing through said block will move through the field thereof, a movable keeper associated with the magnet and adapted to normally bridge the poles thereof, and holding mechanism adapted for releasing on the interruption of said track circuit for releasing said keeper to provide an air gap between the poles of said magnet.

13. In combination with track rails divided into blocks, a track circuit in each block and adapted for interruption on the moving or a car into said block, a permanent magnet associated with each of said blocks and positioned in proximity to said track rails so that a car passing through said block will move through the field thereof, a movable keeper associated with the magnet and adapted to normally bridge the poles thereof and holding mechanism operated on the interruption or" said track circuit for releasing said keeper to provide an air gap between the poles of said magnet, and means capable on the restoring of said track circuit by the passing of the car from said block to move the said keeper to normal position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WALTER S. LEVIN. EUGENE IVIET. WVitnesse-s:

HARRY F. TOTTEN, D, B. RICHARDS. 

